Shadow Empire

Chapter 243: Transaction and Suicide
"Councilman Wade has left his estate."

After the secretary hung up the phone, he turned and looked at the mayor who was standing by the window smoking.

Recently, the mayor has been particularly fond of opening the window and looking at the city carefully. It has always been beautiful and has a beauty that cannot be found anywhere else.

Although there is an industrial system here, it is not dominated by heavy industry, but rather light industry.

Those factories pull parts back from the docks, send them back to the docks after simple processing or assembly. Heavy industry is not popular here.

Because there is no good heavy industrial atmosphere here and no supporting upstream and downstream enterprises. This place is not like those heavy industrial cities where you can find suppliers for everything from steel plates to screws in the same city.

Here, if anyone wants to engage in heavy industry, the first thing they have to face is a lot of overpriced parts.

Many supporting items have to be purchased from other places, and transportation and storage costs are a large additional expense, so the heavy industrial atmosphere here is not strong.

This also makes the pollution situation in Jingang City not so bad.

A port city certainly cannot be completely pollution-free, but compared to those cities that were built for industrial breakthroughs, this place is obviously more suitable for living.

A beautiful city.

The mayor looked away from the neon lights that dyed the sky red. He turned to look at his secretary and asked as if testing him, "So what should we do next?"

The secretary thought for a while and said, "We need some external force to push things forward..."

"Go on." The mayor walked back to the table and sat down, looking at him seriously.

He sorted out the thoughts in his mind, "Now they are with Charlie, it is difficult for us to get them over. They have not been in the same group with us since the beginning."

"And now with the intervention of Senator Wade, they are only going to get tougher."

"The only way to fight them is to get some help from the state capital."

The mayor nodded with great satisfaction. "Very good, it seems you have learned something over the years." He paused, then picked up the phone and dialed the number of an old friend.

"I've run into some troubles... Yes, this is all that's needed. I just hope that in this way, I can let them know that now is not the right time!"

"Okay... no problem, see you later."

After hanging up the phone, the mayor leaned back in his chair with a smile on his face, not showing any nervousness at all.

He really didn't need to be nervous, after all, he wasn't the one venting his animal desires.

A few minutes later, when Director Charlie was talking about some necessary work to be done next, the phone suddenly rang.

There are two telephones in front of Chief Charlie. One is a white phone which is an ordinary work phone that connects to the police station and can also connect to external lines.

Normally, police issues in Jingang City are communicated and resolved through this phone line.

The blue phone next to it is a "non-public number". It is not even in the phone book, but quite a few people know this number.

The wealthy people in the Bay Area, those in City Hall, and even Director Charlie’s relatives and friends.

The main purpose of this phone is to communicate about things other than work.

Now it is Lance's phone that is ringing. Who could be calling him at this time?

He was a little confused. He glanced at the people in the room, motioned for them to leave, and then answered the phone.

"This is the Jingang City Police Department, I'm Charlie."

"Hello, Charlie, I'm Steve. I hope you haven't forgotten me, your old friend!"

This voice instantly made Chief Charlie's mind emerge with a very clear face, the assistant chief of the state police department. They had met him before when Chief Charlie went to the state capital for training.

I met Steve many times later. He is a very active person in the police system.

There are rumors that he also does dirty work for others, which makes Director Charlie feel an innate sense of closeness to him, but after this sense of closeness fades, they become wary of each other.

"Hey, Steve, I was wondering which big shot called me, and it turned out to be you!"

He praised Steve a little. Although the State Police Department could not manage the City Police Department, as people in the same system, the State Police Department would have contact with a much higher level than the City Police Department.

The simplest example is that everyone does dirty work. As a Bay Area Hound, he can only do dirty work for the rich people in the Bay Area, but Steve can do dirty work for the masters in the state legislature and even for the governor!
He couldn't even stand up to the mayor, let alone higher-level forces.

"Charlie, I heard you caught a guy named Sam?"

Charlie immediately became alert, "It seems to be the case, what happened to him?"

Steve laughed and said, "This guy is suspected of some cases we are investigating. You guys get ready and hand him over. I have arranged for someone to go to Jingang City."

"I will arrange for someone to deliver the relevant bounty to you. I have to say, well done!"

"Once the case is solved, I will mention you in the report, don't worry!"

Charlie tried to argue again, "We also have a case here that requires Sam's cooperation."

Steve's tone obviously changed, and he turned his face as fast as turning the pages of a book. "This is a case that the Congress (State House) is paying attention to. You won't choose to do something stupid, right?"

It sounds like an admonition, but in fact it is a threat. Chief Charlie can't afford to offend those gentlemen.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled and said, "Of course, no problem, I will cooperate with the handover procedures."

"Very good, Charlie, you are a smart man. Tell me next time you come to the capital, and I will treat you to a delicious meal."

"I have something else to do, so I won't chat with you anymore. See you later."

Perhaps because they heard the conversation in the room had ended, someone knocked on the door and poked their head in, "Senator Wade is here..."

Chief Charlie immediately stood up and walked out. Soon he saw Congressman Wade getting out of the car at the door of the police station and he hurried to greet him.

Congressman Wade was very easygoing, and didn't seem to have any big congressman airs. He stretched out his hand and shook hands with Director Charlie, with a smile on his face. "Thank you for working so late. How is the situation?"

Chief Charlie made way for Congressman Wade to go inside, and signaled with his eyes that everyone else should get the hell out of the way.

"Sam's attitude was very direct. He could hand over the notebook, but he wanted a way out."

"Also, Steve just called me... the assistant director of the state police. He said the state police wanted to take Sam away."

There was no change in expression on Congressman Wade's face. He was a very qualified politician and was always performing.

"So it seems we don't have much time." He paused and thought for two seconds, "Take me to see Sam first."

Soon, Congressman Wade appeared outside the interrogation room. With the entry of Congressman Wade, Sam's emotions seemed to ease a little.

He knew Congressman Wade, and before coming to Jingang City, he had learned about the situation in Jingang City through some channels and methods.

He knew that the local forces in Jingang City were very stubborn. Originally, the mayor and they had been cooperating well with each other, but he did not expect that the emergence of a hazardous materials administration bureau and a prohibition on alcohol would disrupt this balance and peace.

This made him feel like he was kicked hard in the crotch, which was simply a pain in the balls!
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have come.

But now, he didn't have the heart to think about these things, and quickly stood up, "Mr. Wade."

Senator Wade raised his hand and gestured for him to sit down, then he sat down not far from Sam.

He glanced at the two bodyguards beside him and motioned them to stand by the door. "I believe Mr. Sam won't hurt me, right?"

Sam quickly smiled and said, "I would never hurt you, Mr. Wade, even if I hurt myself."

Congressman Wade laughed heartily, giving people the feeling that he was laughing openly. "I heard Charlie say that you need to see me before you tell me where the notebook is."

Sam gave a bitter smile, "I just... want to live. After all, a big shot like you wouldn't cheat on a small character like me."

"You are not a small character!" Senator Wade said, "You are also a well-known person in Paradise City."

He paused and said, "I can guarantee your life and even leave you some money, but you have to leave the Federation and go to a place where they can't find you."

"I know you're just the unlucky one involved, but things have already happened, and this is the best outcome." "If you accept, I can arrange for someone to send you away right away."

"If you don't accept it, then..."

He didn't say anything, just took out a cigarette case and said, "Mind?"

Sam shook his head, "No problem, sir."

Councilman Wade took out a match and lit the cigarette. He waved the match in his hand to extinguish it, then looked at Sam, "Time for a cigarette."

This was for his consideration. It would take about six hours for the capital to come here, and Chief Charlie didn't know when they would send the people, so they had to do it as soon as possible.

In other words, no matter what, everything is over tonight.

When Senator Wade didn't speak, it put a lot of pressure on Sam. Finally, after weighing the pros and cons, he decided to tell the location of the notebook.

After all, he couldn't actually cause any substantial harm to the mayor. His acceptance of the red high heels was a spontaneous act, and the mayor had no involvement in it.

Even though he accused the mayor of being behind all this, he could not produce any substantial evidence.

In the federal political arena, with both sides having backers, relying on these things without substantial evidence will not hurt the mayor at all.

This kind of thing is like...someone lost his job because of a job interview, but someone else opened a bank in the office. Even if they are "masters", not all masters are exactly the same.

The people in Jingang City would not use him as a deadly weapon to attack the mayor, so if he handed over the notebook, he would be completely safe.

On the contrary, the mayor cannot save him now. Even if the mayor has measures and means, he may not be able to get out in a short time.

Everything is controlled by the locals, and he actually has no choice.

But he also left a "tail" because he had two notebooks.

"I've thought about it, Mr. Wade. The notebook is hidden behind the water tank in the toilet in Room 203 on the second floor of Red High Heels."

Councilman Wade raised an eyebrow, "In the water tank?"

"Behind the water tank!" he repeated. "There's a tile there that you can pull out, and the notebook is inside."

A click!
Suddenly there was thunder outside. Thunder in the middle of the night was actually not common. Soon after that it started to rain. The atmosphere seemed to become indescribably tense.

Congressman Wade looked back at one of his bodyguards, who immediately strode away.

Obviously, he went to verify whether this was true.

Congressman Wade chatted with him about the situation in Paradise City with great interest.

Sam is very clear about this, after all, he is from Paradise City.

Paradise City is very chaotic and different from Jingang City. Everyone there is pursuing their "dreams". As long as you have money, you can recruit people who are willing to take risks.

So there is no distinction between local forces or foreign forces, everyone is just looking at money.

More money means more people, more territory, and more support.

With little money, naturally you can’t recruit many people, so you can only follow behind others.

Every day is a thrilling day!
Listening to Sam's explanation of Paradise City, Councilman Wade remained curious. "You have given me a great understanding of Paradise City. But I don't understand, Sam, why do you have to come to Golden Harbor City?"

Sam didn't know if this was a trick, so he could only force a smile and said, "Because I heard that... Jingang City is more prosperous."

"Although Paradise City is also very prosperous, all industries are controlled by giants. Although we can make money, it is money that the giants look down upon."

"I want to achieve better development. I am optimistic about the present and future of Jingang City. I believe it will become a huge city."

"Before it becomes more brilliant, I came here and joined in. When it becomes more brilliant in the future, I will naturally have my share of the rewards."

He sighed as he spoke, "It just seems that this wish is unlikely to come true."

The two chatted for a while, and then Senator Wade's bodyguard came in and nodded slightly, indicating that the thing had been found.

Congressman Wade had a smile on his face. He put down his crossed legs and stood up. Sam quickly followed suit.

He hunched over and maintained a humble attitude.

"Very good, I have received your sincerity, and you will soon feel my sincerity."

He reached out his hand and shook Sam's, "Everything will be fine!"

After that, he paused for two seconds and retracted his hand. "I'm going back first. Charlie will cooperate with you in the follow-up work. I hope we can meet again if there is a chance. Your description of Paradise City makes me curious about it."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Mr. Wade."

Senator Wade nodded, turned and left the interrogation room.

The moment he walked out, the bodyguard put the notebook in his hand and he flipped through it casually.

In fact, there is not much thrilling stuff in this notebook. Most of it records things like "on a certain day of a certain year and a certain time, sent someone to a certain number in the Bay Area, and picked them up at a certain time."

Then there are the girls' physical conditions, such as "whip marks and minor injuries somewhere and somewhere else", "knife wounds somewhere", "being valued and beaten violently", etc.

Words like "corpse" did not appear. After all, he had not been in charge of Red High Heels for long and was not really familiar with the big shots in the Bay Area. They would not easily kill the people Sam sent over, and everyone maintained a certain degree of restraint.

But even so, if this notebook were to be exposed, it would inevitably set off a terrifying wave of public opinion!

Who could have imagined that those seemingly glamorous big shots actually had such bad and perverted hobbies?
So this notebook must be destroyed, but not now. He must destroy it in front of everyone. Only in this way can people be convinced.

After getting in the car, Director Charlie stood outside the window. He didn't hold an umbrella. His middle fingers were pressed against the seams of his pants. He bent over, lowered his head, and stood there with his eyebrows lowered and his eyes lowered.

"Get rid of it. Don't let those people in the capital get it. If they spread some bad words, it would be embarrassing for us."

"They want it. Giving them a body is an explanation."

Director Charlie bent his waist even lower, and his face looked slightly bitter, because Congressman Wade did not raise any follow-up questions for him as the director.

The car windows were rolled up, and the luxurious convoy slowly merged into the rainy night. The chief returned to the police station. He glanced at his two confidants, Hunter, and another person, standing by the door, and nodded slightly.

Hunter threw his unfinished cigarette out the door dejectedly. It fell into the rain and was completely extinguished without even a spark.

It was as if he was standing on the highway leading to the next era, facing the oncoming car, powerless to do anything.

Two minutes later, the two entered the interrogation room, Hunter holding the key in his hand, "I'll send you to the detention room. You made the right choice."

Sam's face showed a smile that he couldn't control. The muscles in his face seemed to have a mind of his own and he twitched and laughed.

He knew that laughing at this time was not a good thing, but he just felt happy that he was alive.

He didn't notice that when Hunter stood behind him, he took out a piece of glass from his pocket, then suddenly grabbed his chin and lifted it up, and then the sharp glass shard instantly cut his neck.

Hunter immediately pushed away, and the two looked at Sam sitting in the chair, holding his neck and looking at them with wide eyes.

His carotid artery was cut and blood gushed out uncontrollably. In just ten seconds, he didn't even have the strength to shout.

Then, Hunter's companion took out a broken glass from his pocket - wrapped in a handkerchief.

He selectively threw the glass fragments around. Sam tilted his head and stared at them, already in his dying moments.

Hunter wiped the glass shards from his hands with a handkerchief, then walked over to Sam, held his hand, and left deep fingerprints on the glass shards with his index finger and thumb.

It makes sense to commit suicide out of fear of punishment after breaking a glass and then using the glass shards!

(End of this chapter)